Collapsible truck.



- No. 645,524. Ptented Mar. I73, I900.

c. T. GREEN & m. P. ELLIOTT.

GULLAPSIBLE TRUCK.

(Application filed. Sept. 18, 1899.)

(No Mgdal.)

NITED STATES AEN T Fries.

CASPER T. GREEN AND MILO P. ELLIOTT, or DUBLIN, INDIANA.

COLLAPSIBLE TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,524, dated March 13, 1900.

' Application filed September 18,1899. Serial No. 730,940. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CASPER T. GREEN and MILO P. ELLIoTT,citizens of the United States, residing at Dublin, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Collapsible Truclrs,of which the following is a specification.

This invention is in the nature of a folding or collapsible truck, such as are used in moving coffins or caskets from place to place at funerals, in churches, &c.; and the object of the present invention is to simplify and cheapen this class of trucks, while improving their construction.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truck constructed in accordance with our invention set up and ready for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the truck folded for storage or transportation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the truck set up for use. Fig. 4is an enlarged detail perspective view of the crossing of the main bars of the frame in the position of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view of part of the frame in the folded position, specially illustrating the feet.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they appear in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A and 13 indicate the main bars of one side frame of the truck, and A B the corresponding bars of the other side frame, and as these side frames are duplicates the detailed description of one of them will be sufficient. When the truck is set up for use, the bars Aand B occupy inclined positions, as in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, extending inward and downward, crossing each other and pivotally connected at their crossing with each other, and the two side frames secured against spreading apart by means of a cross-bar or long bolt 0. These bars extend from the upper ends of the up,

rights D D and E E of the end frames D inward and downward slightly beyondthe point of crossing and are provided at their lower ends with feet F and G, extending upward at right angles. At the crossing rightangled brackets F and G are secured to the bars A and B, respectively, and project between the bars to limit movement on the pivotal cross-bar and prevent collapse.

. The uprights D D and E E of the end frames are connected by top and bottom crossbars H H and I I. From the lower ends of uprights D D bars J J, bent downward at about their mid-length, extend to and are pivotally connected. to the feet F, while straight bars K K connect the lower ends of uprights E E with feet G, the connection in each case being by means of a cross-rod, as at L L.

At the bends of bars J J is secured an axle or rod M, upon which are carried wheels M M, and casters N N are pivotally mounted at the lower ends of uprights E E.

When the truck is set up, as in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, a casket, coffin, or other article may be supported on the end frames and pushed freely in any direction, the caster-wheels per mitting of free turning in any direction. When,however,it is desired to fold the truck, so as to cause it to occupy a very small space, it is only necessary to draw the end frames toward each other until the parts are brought to the positions indicated in Figs. 2 and 5, in

which positions the feet F G will project at right angles and serve as a base to support the collapsed and folded truck in an upright position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that we have provided a truck composed of a minimum number of economically-constructed and strong parts, which when upright and in use can be readily moved in any direction and when out of use can be folded into a very small compass.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent'of the United States, is

1. The combination in a folding truck of the end frames, inwardly and downwardly inclined main bars pivotally connected to the upper ends thereof, crossing each other and pivoted at the crossing, the ends projecting beyond the crossing, feet at the ends of the bars at right angles thereto, andbars pivotally connecting the lower ends of the main bars with the lower ends of the opposite end frames, substantially as described.

gle of the bent bars, wheels thereon, and cas 15 ters at the lower end of the opposite end frame, substantially as described.

CASPER T. GREEN; MILO P. ELLIOTT.

2. The Combination in a folding truck, of end frames, bars leading downwardly and inwardly therefrom, crossing each other, pivotaily secured at the crossing and extended beyond it, straight bars or links pivotaliy connecting the inner end of one cross-bar with the opposite end frame, downward-bent bars or links connecting the other bars with the opposite end frames, an axle fixed at the an- Witnesses;

SEYMOUR PIERCE, ALoNZo WORL. 

